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by Sara Jane Crane —
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Seven Princess Cruises ships will sail to Alaska in 2019 with the inaugural season of Royal Princess, bringing the largest Princess ship ever to sail the region.
The Royal Princess, a brand new 3,600-passenger ship, is currently on tour in the British Isles and will operate in Canada, the Caribbean, South America and Mexico on its way to the 2019 Alaska debut. The Royal Princess will offer more space on board, more balcony cabins — which are fantastic for viewing the glaciers — and more entertainment and dining venues.
CRUISE TOUR EXPERIENCES
Princess Cruises’ full 50th-anniversary roster includes opportunities to explore Denali National Park, the cities of Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska’s Inside Passage and beyond. In addition, 76 percent of all voyages sail to Glacier Bay National Park.
To enhance the cruise experience and to see more of Alaska, guests can also choose from more than 23 cruise tours. Cruise guests can take in flightseeing trips, cultural tours, wildlife adventures, gold rush history and other experiences.
Four categories of Princess’ Alaska Cruisetours combine seven-day cruises and three to eight nights on land. Those packages incorporate rail journeys and overnight stays in one of five Princess Wilderness Lodges, including two that opened new restaurants in 2018. Rod & Reel at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and North Fork at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge now serve local seafood and Alaska fare.
ACENDAS TRAVEL VIDEO:
Few travel itineraries match the awesome beauty of the Alaska cruise. Majestic glaciers, towering forests, diverse wildlife and more. Acendas Travel advisor JoAnne Weeks shares her experiences of cruising to our 49th state and everything it offers for the traveler. Learn of the allure of the Great White North. Watch here.
Four categories of cruise tour options include:
• Denali Explorer – As Princess’ most popular and best value cruise tour, these itineraries feature multiple nights at the line’s Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and/or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Most offer Princess’ exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service between the ship in Whittier and the Denali area all in one day, plus the opportunity to explore Fairbanks and/or Anchorage.
• On Your Own – An affordable option for independent-minded travelers, these itineraries offer a flexible way to see the heart of Alaska. Tours follow similar routes as Denali Explorer options, but do not include any pre-planned excursions, giving travelers the opportunity to customize their own experience.
• Off the Beaten Path – These itineraries are designed to take travelers beyond Denali to sought-after, remote regions of the state such as the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
• Connoisseur – The line’s highest level of service, these tours provide a truly immersive experience. With a professional tour director, most meals included and enhanced sightseeing; guests experience the best of the Great Land.
CRUISE ONLY EXPERIENCES
Cruise-only excursions make round-trip departures from Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles, while one-way cruises begin in Vancouver or Anchorage.
While on board, guests will encounter a variety of ways to engage in authentic experiences through the award-winning North to Alaska program, featuring Cook My Catch, an exclusive culinary program allowing guests to return from select Princess fishing excursions to have the chef prepare their very own catch of the day. Also offered, the crowd-favorite Puppies in the Piazza, where real Alaska sled dog puppies are brought on board in Skagway for guests to interact with.
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Highlights of the 2019 May–September Alaska program include:
• Voyage of the Glaciers – Princess’ most popular sailings between Vancouver and Whittier features two glacier-viewing experiences on every voyage, with visits to the UNESCO-listed Glacier Bay National Park plus either Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. These seven -day cruises are offered aboard Royal Princess and Golden Princess (departing Saturdays) and Coral Princess and Island Princess (departing Wednesdays). Every northbound Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary on Island Princess includes Icy Strait Point.
• Inside Passage –This awe-inspiring part of Alaska, known for its lush scenery and pristine fjords, will be featured on seven-, 10- and 12-day roundtrip voyages from Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.[su_spacer]
Contact an Acendas Travel Advisor to plan your exciting Alaska Princess Cruise. The destination of Alaska is super hot right now, so don’t delay in planning your 2019 cruise.